Loose leaf binding



Aug. 31, 1937. v. CATINI LOOSE LEAF BINDING Filed Aug. 7, 1935 m'vExTuR,E'mwnzo BY ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 31, 1937 PATENT OFFICE LOOSE LEAF BINDING Vincenzo Catini,New York, N. Y.

Application August 7, 1935, Serial No. 35,052

10 Claims.

This invention relates in general to loose leaf bindingsfor stacks ofsheeted material, that is to bindings in which individual sheets may beremoved from the binding without destroying the binding or the-removedsheet, and in which sheets may lee-readily inserted. In particular itrelatesto bindings for such stacks of sheets, in which a binding elementhas a series of loop like members which are threaded throughperforations provided in the sheets of the stack, for the purpose ofholding the sheets together in bound relation. Co-

ordinately therewith, my invention relates to a method for producingsuch binding constructions.

In the particular form of my invention disclosed herein the successiveloops are related to each other as are the coils of a helix. However,whereas in bindings employing a continuous helical binding elementindividual sheets may not be separated from the binding without removingthe helix completely from the sheets, my invention contemplates abinding construction having helically contoured loops in whichindividual sheets of the stackmay be separately removed withoutdestroying either the binding or the removed sheet, and in which sheetsmay be associated with the bound staclgwithout disturbing the binding.

The provision of means for effecting this purpose is amongthe objects ofmyinvention.

For the attainment of these objects and such other objects as willhereinafter appear or be pointed out I haveillustrated severalembodiments of my invention in the drawing, in which:-

Figures 1 and 2 are views in perspective intended to illustrate theprinciples of my invention;

Figure 3 is a plan view of one embodiment of my invention;

l Figure 4 is a sectional view thereof on the line 4-,,4, of Figure 3,looking in the direction of the 4 arrows; v

Figure 5 is a side elevation of another embodiment of my invention;

Figure 6 is a sectional View on the line 66 of Figure 5, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

The principles underlying my invention can best be explained inconnectionwith Figures 1 and 2. In Figure 1, A, B, C, D are intended torepresent the successive coils of a helical element. Instead of beingcontinuous however coil A is cut at a, coil 13 cut at b, coil C is cutat c, and coil D is cut at d, and these cuts are arranged so that eachsuccessive out is offset in relation to the preceding i one, and inthese figures the direction of ofiset is the same: for the successivecoils, although ob- 55 viously this is not necessarily so. Assuming nowthat these coils are held in fixed relation to each other, as, forexample, by a member E uniting them, it will be found possible to inserta sheet S, having perforations P therein that register with coils of thespiral, into the openings, a, b, c, d and in causing the loops A, B, C,D to enter the perforations P, so that the sheet may assume the positionshown in Figure 2. In order to insert the sheet S it is first necessaryto warp it out of its normal plane in order to compensate for theaforementioned offsetting of the openings at, b, c, d. After the sheethas been inserted, with the coils of the spiral passing through theperforations P the sheet will tend to assume its normal planeconformation, with its inner edge substantially parallel to the axis ofthe coils of the helix, and When in that position it can not be readilydisengaged from the coil, because only one perforation at a time willnormally register with the opening in the coil passing through thatperforation. This is clearly shown in Figure 2 in which the lowerportions of the coils, adjacent the openings (1, b, c, d project throughsaid openings by an amount successively increasing. In order to removethe sheet S it is therefore again necessary to warp the sheet as shownin Figure l, and after such warping has taken place the sheet may beslipped out through the openings a, b, c, d. It will therefore beobvious that a binding element constructed according to the principlesjust enunciated will effectively hold the sheets in bound relation andwill permit ready removal or insertion of sheets by a simplemanipulation, and Without disturbing the binding of the other sheets.

The construction of Figures 3 and 4 may be arrived at by taking acontinuous helically coiled wire and uniting it to a longitudinal memberit in any suitable manner such as by soldering or Welding, this wirebeing applied to one side of the coils of the helix. After such union bywhich the individual coils of the helix are held fixed to the member ID,the successive coils of the helix are cut as indicated at it, and thiscutting is shown as taking place along the line K-K that is curved in aspiral or helical direction in relation to the axis of the helix so thatthe cut in each coil is laterally displaced from the cut in thepreceding coil. The result is a series of helically aligned coils [4arranged in fixed relation along the connecting member H3 and eachhaving an opening therein, and the successive openings are arranged in aline running spirally along the length of the binding element.

In the modification of Figures 5 and 6 the connecting member 10a isshown perforated as at l6 and the coils I la are threaded throughperforations lfia. Permanent assembly is again effected in any suitableor preferred manner such as by soldering or welding. Advantage of thisconstruction over the one of Figures 3 and 4 is that it has additionalstrength due to the fact that the union of member Illa and coil I ladepends not merely on the soldering or welding but on the added strengthgiven by the supporting eifect of the walls of the holes Mia and of thespiral passing therethrough. The various coils are out along a helicalline as before, this being indicated at Ma. The method of assemblydescribed in connection with Figures 3 and 4 is obviously alsoapplicable to that of Fig ures 5 and 6.

While in connection with the above described embodiments I have statedthat the helical coils are permanently united to a connecting member, itwill be obvious that this is not necessarily so, and that the coils maybe removably held in place as by clamping. It will also be obvious thatwhile the helical arrangement of the openings is con venient for certainpurposes, that for other purposes other arrangements will be foundsuitable, since to secure the desired locking action it is onlynecessary to oifset some of the openings in relation to the others.Again, while in the particular embodiment herein disclosed the coils areshown as forming parts of a single helix, this is not necessarily so,since the purposes of my invention will be attained with equal effectwhere the coils are not portions of the same helix.

It will further be understood that while I have described a convenientmethod of assembly of the embodiments disclosed herein, namely the useof a helical coil which is united to a connecting member and then cutlongitudinally, that it is not necessary to use this method of assembly.For example, the individual coils M or Ma might first be completelyprepared and then assembled with the connecting member It or ital.

While I have herein disclosed several embodiments of my invention andindicated methods of making such embodiments it is to be understood thatmy invention may be embodied in many other forms and may be practised inmany other ways than those herein disclosed, and that the disclosureherein is by way of illustration only and is not to be interpreted in alimiting sense, and that I do not limit myself in any way other than ascalled for by the prior art.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A binding element for a stack of sheets comprising a series of openhelical loops, said loops forming portions of a single helix and amember connecting said loops, and the opening in each loop beingperipherally offset with relation to the opening in the preceding loop,the direction of ofiset being the same for all of the loops.

2. As an article of manufacture, a binding element for a stack of sheetscomprising a series of helically aligned helical loops and alongitudinally extending member connecting said loops, an opening ineach loop, said opening in each loop being peripherally offset withrelation to the opening in the preceding loop, the direction and amountof offset being the same for all of the successive loops.

3. As an article of manufacture, a binding element for a stack of sheetscomprising a series of helically aligned helical loops and alongitudinally extending member connecting said loops, an opening ineach loop, said opening in each loop being peripherally offset withrelation to the opening in the preceding loop, the direction of oifsetbeing the same for all the successive loops.

4. A binding element for a stack of sheets comprising a series of openhelical loops, said loops forming portions of a single helix and amember connecting said loops, and the opening in each loop beingperipherally offset with relation to ie opening in the preceding loop,the direction of offset being the same for all of the loops, saidconnecting member having perforations therein, and said loops passingthrough said perforations.

5. The method of assembling a binding element for binding stack ofperforated sheets, that comprises the steps of uniting a helicallycoiled element with a member adapted to support the individual coils ofthe helix, and thereafter cutting an opening in each individual coil insuch a manner that the successive openings are arranged along a linespirally disposed with relation to the helix.

6. The method of assembling a binding element for binding a stack ofperforated sheets, that comprises the steps of threading a helicallycoiled lement through perforations in an elongated connecting member anduniting said element and member, and thereafter cutting an opening ineach individual coil in such a manner that the successive openings arearranged along a line spirally disposed with relation to the helix.

'7. For use in binding together a stack of perforated sheets, a bindingelement comprising a series of open helically contoured loops adapted toengage the perforations of the stack in threaded relation, the openingsin at least one of said loops being offset in relation to another loopand means to hold said loops in a fixed predetermined relation to eachother.

8. For use in binding together a stack of perforated sheets, a bindingelement comprising a series of open helically contoured loops adapted toengage the perforations of the stack in threaded relation, the openingsin said loops being offset in relation to the openings in the otherloops and means to hold said loops in a fixed predetermined relation toeach other.

9. For use in binding together a stack of perforated sheets, a bindingelement comprising a series of open helically contoured loops adapted toengage the perforations of the stack in threaded relation, the openingin each of said loops being offset in relation to the openings in theadjacent loops and a substantially rigid member uniting said loops.

10. For use in binding together a stack of perforated sheets, a bindingelement comprising a series of axially aligned open helically contouredloops, all forming portions of the same helix, adapted to engage theperforations of the stack in threaded relation and means for holdingsaid loops fixedly in said aligned relationships.

VINCENZO CA'IINI.

